1588 Hovabator How many have and pros and cons

[Katy]

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Mine usually start on late day 20....except my Wheaten Marans that 99% of the time don't start until day 21. I've only had to adjust one of mine a tiny bit when I first got it.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Actually mine usually hatch on day 20 Julie. I have adjusted the temperature on a couple of them and it wasn't easy, but I was a real newbie too. And I had to adjust the temp down. I bought a couple "spot check" thermometers (Cynthia-Speckled Hen) recommended them and she was right, they are very accurate. So temp is between 99.5 and 100.3 in them

I have a few chicks of my own that are hatching as I write--2 out. Light Sussex and BCM. They were supposed to hatch on the 7th but this morning 2 are out and I have 7 more pips. They are clean, no sticky or egg yolk sack not absorbed but I alway do a dry incubation with these thanks to Bill Worrell. At most I will add a little water twice during the 21 days.
I keep the vent plugs out too except a hatch--when I put them in and up the humidity to 50-60. It is very dry out here but they still hatch great with this methodas long as the egg is overly pourous.

 

[lildinkem]

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I had two outta 10 that hatched come in on day 20. The rest on day 21, and 2 of Charlies almost day 22. I cook with a lower temp. I do not like seeing triple digits on my thermostat. So I set mine to be between 98 and 100. With my eggs that are from my girls here, I am doing well over 90% with the Buffs I am hatching. Which is why I liked mixing another line in with the my Buff Orps, to increase fertility. Job done!

 

[BamaChicken]

Germaine I agree on keeping the humidity low for the first 18 , I have Hova bator that is old as the hills and has forced air. The wafer has never gone out and it keeps the temps steady between 99.5 and 100. The liner is about worn out and I don't know if I can get a replacment to fit it. I find that I would rather they hatch early than late to prevent feet problems. Never had a problem with one that hatched early. I have the temp on the Dicki set at 100.5 cause a friend of mine who has used hers for years said go up a bit. That is using the digital Cooper temp and humidity thingy. One thing I have noticed with the Dicki to is i have to rotate the trays front to back. The last hatch I did with leaving the trays with out moving them is the back trays were a delayed hatch and most didn't make itout where as the front trays all hatched on time and no problems. I have only been using the Dicki for a year. I kept it in the house for 6 months and I think that it did work better in a controlled enviroment. I keep the Hovabator in the house as it is small. Those cabinet incubators take up a lot of room and the way they are made with the switches on the side you have to have them straight out to get to the switches.
I wish some one would design a smaller electronic that would hold around 100 eggs and not be as deep.
When i was at the Newnan Ga show they were having a raffle for a homemade electronic beautiful Oak cabinet incubator. The designer had doors that opened front and back which would make for easy clean up. He had the egg turners but they didn't have the strip that ran down the back wall. Wish I had won it.

 

[lildinkem]

Last nite I heard too much noise coming outta one of the 18 day cycle Bators I have, I openned it and there 6 little puffballs looking up at me. I missed a complete row of eggs that were put in on the 10th. All are happy and making new friends. And they hatched out and tha Bator ws down to 24% humidity. And the Auto turner was on. Boy I am a good papa chickens. NOT!

 

[BamaChicken]

Bill when I had silkies i was notorious for hatching them in the turner. Never lost one.

 

[hippichick]

Julie, I've been using my Dickie for a year now-same as you. I just brought out the Hovabator to hatch some button quail eggs. I'm having to turn twice a day because I don't have quail egg cups for my turner. I have to admit, my Dickie's got me spoiled-just put them in and forget about them. If I don't have anything in my hatcher, I'll just throw them in there come hatch time. But I think as far as small styrofoam bator, Hovabator is one of the best. I hatched a bunch of babies in mine before I got the Dickies.

 

[FrenchToast]

I love mine, hatched out my first ones a week ago and yesterday filled it up again !!!
I'm thinking about getting another one too.
But I don't know if that will satisfy my hatching addiction, LOL I think I'll just want another and another and another .......

As far as cleaning, I wish there was a plastic liner or something that would fit the whole sytrofoam bottom, it really wasn't nice to clean, but none of them are !! Pewwweee!!!

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[lildinkem]

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Almost all of my Carlos babies were hatched in the bator with the Auto turner on. I had put in 26 eggs and forgot about it, 23 hatched in that bator. lolol And I had these 1/2 Aker Buffs hatching out all at the same time. I went from just a few chicks to 50 overnite. lolol